Science - Astronomy (496 results)

The Sea of Calm (Mare Tranquillitatis) on the Moon Figure; Frontispiece; Medieval Representation of the Universe; The Great Bear as it is now (A), as it was 10,000 Years Ago (B), and as it will be 10,000 Years Hence (C); Proportions of the Sun and the Planets; Part of the Milky Way in the Constellation Cygnus; The Constellation Centaurus, with our nearest fixed Star, Alpha Centauri, and the Southern Cross; Cluster of Stars in the Constellation Centaurus; Elliptic Nebulæ; Photograph of a Diatom; Snowflakes; Camille Flammarion in his Observatory at Juvisy, near Paris; An Observatory for the People: The Urania, in Berlin; Havel's Observatory in Danzig, in 1640; The LIck Observatory, Mount Hamilton, California; The Yerkes Observatory, near Chicago; An Ancient Astronomer engaged in Observation; The Earth as a Disc Floating on the Water; The Observatory of Alexandria, in the Time of Hipparchus; Tycho Brahe; Nicholas Copernicus; Tycho Brahe's Observatory, Uranienborg, in the Island of Hven, in 1576; Celestial Globe made by Tycho Brahe; John Kapler; Galileo Galilei; Havel Measuring Stellar Altitudes with he Quadrant

The chief charm of Astronomy, with many, does not reside in the wonders revealed to us by the science, but in the lore and legends connected with its history, the strange fancies with which in old times it has been associated, the half-forgotten myths to which it has given birth. In our own times also, Astronomy has had its myths and fancies, its wild inventions, and startling paradoxes. My object in the present series of papers has been to collect together the most interesting of these old and new Astronomical myths, associating with them, in due proportion, some of the chief marvels which recent Astronomy has revealed to us. To the former class belong the subjects of the first four and the last five essays of the present series, while the remaining essays belong to the latter category.

This list of star-names is published in the endeavor to fill an acknowledged vacancy in our popular astronomical literature. It is not intended for the professional astronomer, who, as a rule, cares little about the old designations of the objects of his study, - alphabets, numerals, and circles being preferable, indeed needful, for his purposes of identification. Yet great scholars have thought this nomenclature not unworthy their attention, - Grotius, Scaliger, Hyde, and our own Whitney, among others, devoting much of their rare talent to its elucidation; while Ideler, of a century ago, not without authority in astronomy as in other branches of learning, wrote as to inquiry into star-names:<br><br>This is, in its very nature, coincidently a research into the constellations, and it is so much more worth while learning their history as throughout all ages the spirit of man has concerned itself with a subject that has ever had the highest interest to him, - the starry heavens.<br><br>Old Thomas Hood, of Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1590 asserted that they were "for instruction's sake... things cannot be taught without names"; and it is certain that knowledge of these contributes much to an intelligent pleasure when we survey the evening sky. For almost all can repeat Thomas Carlyle's lament:<br><br>Why did not somebody teach me the constellations, and make me at home in the starry heavens, which are always overhead, and which I don't half know to this day?

The mystery of the Great Pyramid resides chiefly in this: that while certainly meant to be a tomb, it was obviously intended to serve as an observatory, though during the lifetime only of its builder, and was also associated with religious observances. Minor difficulties arise from the consideration of the other pyramids. In this treatise I show that there is one theory, which, instead of conflicting with other theories of the pyramid, combines all that is sound in them with what has hitherto been wanting, a valid and sufficient reason (for men who thought as the builders of the pyramid certainly did) for erecting structures such as these, at the cost of vast labour and enormous expense.

This volume, both in respect to matter and arrangement, is designed especially for the use of the cadets of the U.S. Military Academy, as a supplement to the course in General Astronomy at present taught them from the text-book of Professor C.A. Young. It is therefore limited to that branch of Practical Astronomy which relates to Field Work, and more particularly to those subjects which are not discussed at sufficient length for practical work in Professor Youngs volume. It is believed, however, that it will find a useful application in the hands of officers of the Army, who may be called upon to conduct such explorations and surveys for military purposes as the War Department may from time to time direct. The more usual methods of determining Time, Latitude, and Longitude, on Land, are explained, and the requisite reduction formulas are deduced and explained. In addition, there is given a short explanation of the principles relating to the Construction of Ephemerides, to the Figure of the Earth, the determination of Azimuths, and the projection of Solar Eclipses. The instruments described are those used by the cadets in the Field and Permanent Observatories of the Military Academy during the summer encampment. The principal sources of information from which the matter in this volume has been derived are the published Reports of the United States Lake, Coast, and Northern Boundary Surveys; the publications of the Hydrographic Office, U.S. Navy, and the works of Brunnow and Chauvenet. U.S. MiLiTABY Academy, West Point, N.Y., October, 1892.

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The Elements of AstronomyWith Methods for Determining the Longitudes, Aspects, &c. Of the Planets for Any Future Time; And an Extensive Set of Geographical and Astronomical Problems on the Globes, Designed for the Use of Schools and Junior Students

by S. Treeby

That on the twenty-eighth day of Bfarch, in the forty-seventh vear of the Independence of the Uoited States of Ameriea, Samuel Wood Sons, of the said Diftrict, have deposited in thii odice, the title of a book, tbe right wber othey claim as proprietors, in the wnrd following, to it: The Elements of Astronomy; with methods for determining the longitudes, aspects, c.of the planets for any future time; and an extensive set of Geographical and Astronomical Problems on the globes. Designed for the use of schools and junior students. ByS. Treeby, teacher of Mathematics, Classics, c.c. Revised and corrected by M.

Man as man is a very interesting study, and we can trace his history only by the monuments he has left behind him, whether intentionally or unintentionally. These monuments may take the form varying from a potsherd to the Great Pyramid at Cheops, but it is all markings of the advancement of man. Sometime in the history of the human race, architecture must have had its beginning; something must have served as a model. The question naturally arises: What was that model? In this thesis we are endeavoring to arrive at conclusions in regard to:1. The Origin of Architectural Design.2. The Relation of Astronomy (as conceived by the primitive races) to Religion.3. The Actual Scientific Knowledge Possessed by the Earliest of Civilized Peoples, i. e., the Egyptians, Babylonians and Greeks.

I have endeavoured in this work to give a complete account of the phenomena presented by the planet Saturn and its system. It might appear, at first sight, that a single planet, however interesting or elaborate the scheme of which it is the centre, should rather be made the subject of a chapter than of a volume, even of the moderate dimensions of the present. It will be found, however, that much that is contained in these pages, is applicable, with suitable changes in matters of detail, to all the members of the solar system.<br><br>The inquiry into the nature of the rings, in Chapter V., deals with a subject not uninteresting, I think, on its own account, but which gathers an additional interest from its bearing on the speculations of Laplace. It is not altogether impossible that in the variations perceptibly proceeding in the Saturnian ring-system a key may one day be found to the law of development under which the solar system has reached its present condition.<br><br>Certain points of resemblance between the relations of Saturn and our earth, as respects the variations of their seasons, have induced me to devote somewhat more space to the consideration of the celestial phenomena presented to the Saturnians than the nature of the subject might appear to warrant.

Nature, from a summer afternoon by the Durham shore to tempest on the Atlantic; from the merciless rage of the North Sea to the peacefulness of a perfect autumn day; from the wonders of the starry skies to homely portents of the weather. The material for most of the astronomical and purely weather subjects has been selected from contributions to T.P. sWeekly and The Yorkshire Weekly Post. In the main, however, it is quite altered in form, sometimes only a few lines being retained out of a lengthy article in the original. I have introduced new matter wherever it seemed to tend to the better treatment of a particular subject. The nautical sketches may interest those readers who are fond of the sea. For me, born almost on the cliff edge of the north-east coast, they have a warm corner in my heart. It is many years since the opening sketch, When the North Sea Rages, was written. I submitted it to the judgment of the late Wm. Clark Russell, than whom no truer prose-poet of the sea ever breathed, and to my intense gratification he wrote in return: Your description of the gale is full of the tumult of storm, and the oncoming of the wind is very well done.

As my readers are doubtless aware, the solar system consists of a number of planets revolving round the sun as a centre, and of subordinate systems of satellites revolving round the planets, or at least round some of them. Our own earth is one of these planets, the third in order of distance from the central luminary, which forms the common source of light and heat to all the members of the system. In addition to the planets and satellites, there are also some comets which form permanent members of the solar system. Some of these comets revolve round the sun in very elongated orbits, while the planets and satellites revolve in nearly circular orbits. A consideration of the absolute size of this planetary system and its relative size compared with that of the universe of stars, or at least the universe visible to us, may prove of interest to the reader.

In class-books of astronomy and geography, facts relating to the earths movements and place in the universe are usually treated in an inadequate manner. Students are informed that the earth is a globe; that it rotates on an axis; revolves round the sun and is one of a family of planets; but they are not taught these matters scientifically. The scientific method of observation and induction should be used in elementary astronomy as in other physical sciences. Celestial phenomena must be observed before the theories that explain them can be properly understood. This has been borne in mmd in the design of the following pages. The first chapter deals with star-groups and the apparent diurnal motion of the celestial sphere. In the second chapter it is shown that all the phenomena previously described can be explained by the fact that the earth is a globe in rotation.

Rue de Rennes with the Rue de Lonvre, and which, lined with the statues of celebrated scientists and philosophers, emphasizes the monumental avenue leading to the new portico of the Institute, was absolutely black with people.

The Observatory was written by an unknown author in 1891. This is a 441 page book, containing 199651 words and 59 pictures. Search Inside is enabled for this title.

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For 1832, or, A Complete Guide to the AlmanackContaining an Explanation of Saints' Days and Holidays; With Existing and Obsolete Rites and Customs, Sketches of Contemporary Biography, &c. &c.; Atsronomical Occurrences in Every Month; Comprising Remarks on the Phenomena of the Celestial Bodies; Notes

by Unknown Author

After enjoying an undiminished popularity during eighteen years, we enter into our nineteenth with some confidence that our endeavours to keep pace with the rising spirit of the age, will be found deserving a continuance of public favour. The first portion of the present volume contains the Remarkable Days, in which is given brief notices of all the Saints Days in the Calendar; Sketches of the most prominent Characters who have died during the last twelve months; and a variety of other amusing and instructive information. The second division, containing the Astronomical Occurrences, occupy a larger space than usual, in consequence of the length of the treatise on Cometary Astronomy, which at this period must possess great interest from the expected appearance of two remarkable Comets in the course of the yeiar.

This small volume is not offered to the public as an original treatise upon its subject. It is merely a brief compilation of the facts of Astronomy, as presented by the acknowledged authorities, together with some slight reference to various theories not yet substantiated.<br><br>All technical terms, and all mathematics, except certain simple figures necessary for description and comparison, have been omitted, and no signs or symbols have been used except those to be found in the ordinary almanacs. These last do not appear in the text, but are given on a separate page in the back part of the volume. In spite of these omissions, it is hoped that this compilation may have some value as a concise reference book for the general reader or for schools. With a view toward simplicity, the writer has given no exact figures such as would be necessary in an advanced textbook, but has stated all numerical values in the closest approximate terms.

There is no science in which progressive improvement is so distinctly marked as in Astronomy. The steps by which it has advanced to the state of excellence in which we now behold it, may be as accurately traced as the principal events of our past lives. But although this be the case, and although the improvement of this science has been productive of more important benefits to society than any other that could be named, yet there is no branch of useful knowledge so little studied by the inhabitants of this country, at the present day, as Astronomy. For though great and important discoveries have lately been made in this science, yet a knowledge of these and even of the principles of the science itself, is confined to a few individuals. The chief reason, perhaps, that can be assigned for this well-known fact, is, that the science of Astronomy has been generally cultivated by eminent mathematicians; and hence an ill-founded opinion has arisen, that it is necessary to study a tedious course of mathematics, previous to entering upon the study of this science. But however necessary mathematical knowledge may be in the pursuit of astronomical studies, much important and useful information may be acquired on this subject, without possessing a knowledge of mathematics.

The last quarter of a century has seen a striking increase in the size and efficiency of astronomical telescopes. These have opened up new fields of great interest; but in the widespread attention which they have attracted there is some danger lest it should be forgotten that there are fields for which the primary instrument of all, the unassisted human eye, is still available, and to which it alone is adapted, fields which even yet are far from being exhausted.<br><br>I owe my own first recognition of the extent of the work in astronomy which there is still to be done without a telescope to the sight of the Zodiacal Light whilst passing through the Red Sea. The more I studied that object, the more I was impressed with its mysteriousness, and it was in the first place, in the hope of enlisting observers in its study, that I commenced in 1900 a series of short papers in Knowledge upon the Zodiacal Light and other objects which like it need no optical assistance for their examination. The subject has grown in the writing to far larger dimensions than I had in the least anticipated at first, and no doubt it might have been expanded to a much greater length still without exhausting it.

AsTKONOMT is not studied in the lower and intermediate schools of the United States as much as its importance and interest demand. Its phenomena are so striking, so well calculated to awaken thought, and so much objects of common notice, that an intelligent appreciation of their causes and relations is greatly to be desired. This book is believed to be written so that any person of ordinary education and intelligence can understand it. ITo knowledge of mathematics beyond arithmetic is necessary, except that in a few cases trigonometrical solutions of important problems have been given in foot-notes for the benefit of those who understand such methods. Special efibrt has been made to render clear the abstruse points in the science, with what success can be judged from the explanations of the Transit of Venus, the Precession of the Equinoxes, the Tides, etc. Particular care has been taken to distinguish between theories and established facts, even when the former seem to be highly probable; while mere speculations are altogether excluded. The illustrations have been carefully chosen.

To be read by the student as well as the teacher.) The purpose of this book is to furnish a text which is sufficiently short and easy to be mastered by the student of civil engineering in a single college term, but which shall give him a sufficiently exact and extensive knowledge of geodetic astronomy to serve as a basis for practice in that line after graduation. Though the book has been prepared primarily for students, the author has endeavored to insert such sub- ject-matter, tables, and convenient formulae as would make it of value as a manual for the engineer making astronomical observations. In order to make the book sufficiently short it has been necessary to omit all mathematical processes except those actually necessary for developing the working formulse. And as the object of the work is to teach a certain limited branch of astronomy, rather than to teach mathematics, the simpler and special means of deriving the working formulae have been chosen, in every case in which there was a chance for choice, instead of the more difficult and general derivation that would naturally be chosen by the mathematician. The occasion for the book is the fact that in the course of study prescribed for students of civil engineering at Cornell University but five hours per week for one term can be devoted to the text-book work and lectures on astronomy. Under these conditions it is out of the question to use Chauvenet sstandard

To prevent a possible misapprehension in scientific quarters, the author desires it understood that the present work is not designed either to instruct the professional investigator or to train the special student of astronomy. Its main object is to present the general reading public with a condensed view of the history, methods, and results of astronomical research, especially in those fields which are of most popular and philosophic interest at the present day, couched in such language as to be intelligible without mathematical study. He hopes that the earlier chapters will, for the most part, be readily understood by any one having clear geometrical ideas, and that the later ones will be intelligible to all. To diminish the difficulty which the reader may encounter from the unavoidable occasional use of technical terms, a Glossary has been added, including, it is believed, all that are used in the present work, as well as a number of others which may be met with elsewhere.<br><br>Respecting the general scope of the work, it may be said that the historic and philosophic sides of the subject have been treated with greater fulness than is usual in works of this character, while the purely technical side has been proportionately condensed.

The present work grew out of articles contributed to McClure's Magazine a few years since on the Unsolved Problems of Astronomy, Total Eclipses of the Sun, and other subjects. The interest shown in these articles suggested an exposition of the main facts of astronomy in the same style. The result of the attempt is now submitted to the courteous consideration of the reader.<br><br>The writer who attempts to set forth the facts of astronomy without any use of technical language finds himself in the dilemma of being obliged either to convey only a very imperfect idea of the subject, or to enter upon explanations of force and motion which his reader may find tedious. In grappling with this difficulty the author has followed a middle course, trying to present the subject in such a way as to be intelligible and interesting to every reader, and entering into technical explanations only when necessary to the clear understanding of such matters as the measure of time, the changes of the seasons, the varying positions of the constellations, and the aspects of the planets. It is hoped that the reader who does not wish to master these subjects will find enough to interest him in the descriptions and illustrations of celestial scenery to which the bulk of the work is devoted.<br><br>The author is indebted to Mr. Secretary Langlev, of the Smithsonian Institution, for the use of the picture which forms the frontispiece.

The present work is not a compendium of astronomy or an outline course of popular reading in that science. It has been prepared as a text-book, and the author has purposely omitted from it much matter interesting as well as important to a complete view of the science, and has endeavored to concentrate attention upon those parts of the subject that possess special educational value. From this point of view matter which permits of experimental treatment with simple apparatus is of peculiar value and is given a prominence in the text beyond its just due in a well-balanced exposition of the elements of astronomy, while topics, such as the results of spectrum analysis, which depend upon elaborate apparatus, are in the experimental part of the work accorded much less space than their intrinsic importance would justify.<br><br>Teacher and student are alike urged to magnify the observational side of the subject and to strive to obtain in their work the maximum degree of precision of which their apparatus is capable. The instruments required are few and easily obtained. With exception of a watch and a protractor, all of the apparatus needed may be built by any one of fair mechanical talent who will follow the illustrations and descriptions of the text.